Jalie rashie top for Miss Four

I had a lot of trouble finding a simple rashie pattern for my girls. There’s lots of long sleeve tops and leotard patterns out there, but they are all quite loose fitting. A swim top like this needs to be close fitting and worn tight, designed with spandex in mind. In the end, I settled on Jalie 3135, which is a neck to toe skinsuit pattern with a zipper front. I modified it a little.

I started with a size 6 for Miss Four and made the following changes:

cut the leg portion off the pattern and marked where I would like the top to end. I tried to estimate the waist point and then I used other tops belonging to Miss Four to guess the length.

removed the zipper closure and removed the CF seam to make one front bodice piece to cut on the fold

The centre back had a curved seam to allow for close fitting to a natural back curve in a one-piece suit. I straightened up this seam and added the lost ease to the side seams instead. I did this so I could then remove the CB seam and cut it as one piece on the fold too.

skimmed a few cm off the neckline and drew up a new neckband.

Shortened the arms by 2cm.

I’m actually really pleased with the way it turned out. I found this Jalie pattern to be quite spot on with its recommendation for age and size. Because I’d never sewn a Jalie pattern before, I erred on the side of safety and sewed a few sizes up just to be safe. It still fits Miss Four, but could do with being a little tighter. Miss Six tried it on and if fits her perfectly. But the ownership of this top was non-negotiable, because it was made to match a certain pair of tutu-togs. In any case, I’m happy enough to know that Miss Four is comfortable in it now, and it will fit her next year too. Summertime swimming here we come!